5.22.2009

The Port of San Diego, in partnership with Scott White Contemporary Art, is proud to present a monumental exhibition of large-scale sculptures by world-renowned artist, Bernar Venet. This historic exhibition encompasses thirteen steel sculptures placed at key locations within the Port’s waterfront district as well as at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, the San Diego Museum of Art, the San Diego International Airport, Liberty Station (NTC), the Marriott Hotel & Marina and the Omni Hotel. This is the first solo exhibition of this caliber and magnitude to take place in Southern California.

This is an exciting time culturally for San Diego. The working waterfront provides a powerful landscape for the artist’s work. The exhibit is free and can be enjoyed by residents and visitors at key locations.

5.20.2009

At Torrey Pines State Park, you will find "The Lodge" which is a small museum you'll miss if you aren't looking. Inside, they have a fantastic display of the animals and plants of the region. It's a shame that man has squeezed these large cats out.

What’s in a name?Mountain lion, puma, cougar, panther—this cat is known by more names than just about any other mammal! But no matter what you call it, it’s still the same cat, Felis concolor, the largest of the small cat species. So how did it get so many names? Mostly because it has such a large range, and people from different countries have called it different things. Early Spanish explorers to North and South America called it leon (lion) and gato monte (cat of the mountain), from which we get the name "mountain lion." Puma is the name the Incas gave this cat in their language. Cougar seems to have come from an old South American Indian word, cuguacuarana, which was shortened to cuguar and then spelled differently. And panther is a general term for cats that have solid-colored coats, so it was used for pumas as well as black jaguars. All of these names are considered correct, but scientists usually use the name puma.

Here in Southern California they are commonly called mountain lions. You may have heard of the Florida panther. This is a subspecies of mountain lion that used to be found from Texas throughout the southeast, but is now only found in Florida. It is endangered, with only about 50 cats left, and conservation efforts are underway to try to save it.

Mountain lions and peopleAs more people have moved into the mountain lion's territory, the number of encounters with these cats has increased. This is often "big news" and frightens people. But overall, meeting a mountain lion is an unlikely event. The cats don’t want to confront humans, and they will do their best to avoid us. You can avoid them, too, by not hiking alone, or at dusk and dawn when mountain lions are hunting. Make noise as you hike, and don’t leave food out around a cabin or campsite, especially at night. If you do happen across a mountain lion, never approach it—always give it a way to escape.Some people have considered mountain lions to be pests and shot them on sight, or trapped or poisoned them. That’s one of the reasons the cats have become scarce across North America. It’s important to remember that mountain lions have an essential role to play in their ecosystems. They are one of the top predators, and without them populations of deer and other animals would become unhealthy and too large for the habitat. It’s true that mountain lions can be dangerous, and problem cats should be reported to local animal control agencies, like the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife. But people like to live and play in or near wild places, so we need to understand and respect the wildlife that also lives there. If we take responsibility for our own actions, pets, livestock, and property, we can learn to live with mountain lions and appreciate their power and grace.

Fun Facts

Mountain lions can jump 18 feet (5.5 meters) from the ground into a tree, and they have been known to jump 20 feet (6.1 meters) up or down a hillside. That’s the height of many two-story buildings!

Mountain lions are good swimmers, but they’d rather not get in the water because they don’t seem to like being wet.

Even though we hear it a lot in movies and on TV, mountain lions don’t make that "wild cat scream" very often. More common vocalizations are whistles, squeaks, growls, purrs, hisses, and yowls.

Some mountain lions eat porcupines, quills and all, apparently without any harm!See them at The San Diego Zoo: Cat Canyon

5.19.2009

Butterfly or moth: what's the difference?Technically speaking, butterflies are types of moths. But there are some ways to tell them apart. Butterflies generally have long, smooth antennae that are rounded on the ends, while most moths have thick, feathery antennae. Moths also tend to have larger, fuzzier bodies than butterflies. Most moths fly at night, while most butterflies fly during the day. Because of when they're active, butterflies tend to be more colorful than moths, but that's not always the case. You can see another difference when they're resting: most moths flatten their wings out over their bodies, while most butterflies raise them up and against each other. And although both butterflies and moths develop in a chrysalis, most moths also spin a protective cocoon. When people talk about this family of insects in general, they may use "butterflies" or "moths" to describe them, and both are considered correct.

Fun facts• In some places, the number of caterpillars feeding on plants is so large that you can actually hear them munching.• The Asian vampire moth lives up to its name! It has a tough proboscis to break through thick-skinned fruits, but sometimes it also sucks the blood of water buffalo or deer.• Many adult butterflies never excrete waste—they use up all they eat for energy!• "Puddle clubs" are groups of butterflies that gather at mud puddles and wet soil to suck up salts and minerals.• Butterflies can see red, green, and yellow, but they also see color in the ultraviolet range, which reveals patterns on flowers—and other butterflies—that we can't see.• Some Arctic moths may spend 14 years as caterpillars, only active a few weeks each summer.• Butterfly wings are actually clear—the colors and patterns we see are made by the reflection of the tiny scales covering them.

5.18.2009

There are over 300 species of Lobelia which grows rampant in San Diego. The shades come in shocking hues of purples and blues. It is a great accent in my garden.

Lobelia (Lobelia inflata ), also called Indian tobacco, has a long history of use as an herbal remedy for respiratory conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, and cough. Native Americans historically have smoked lobelia as a treatment for asthma. In the 19th century, American physicians prescribed lobelia to induce vomiting in order remove toxins from the body. Because of this, it earned the name "puke weed." Today, lobelia is considered effective in helping clear mucus from the respiratory tract, including the throat, lungs, and bronchial tubes. Although few studies have thoroughly evaluated the safety and effectiveness of lobelia, some herbalists today incorporate lobelia into a comprehensive treatment plan for asthma.

5.17.2009

LaJolla Presbyterian Church @ 7715 Draper Ave in La Jolla is a lovely church, located across the street from the La Jolla Tennis club and down the street from my favorite public library. On our walk, we saw this seagull on top of the church cross.

When I went to theirweb site, I came across the "bible verse of the day"~

The way of the LORD is a refuge for the righteous, but it is the ruin of those who do evil.Proverbs 10:29

5.15.2009

5.14.2009

If I understand my blog from yesterday correctly, this lovely lad is a turtle. The above pose reminds me of some prehistoric creature. I could watch them all day long in their habitat at The San Diego Zoo.

5.13.2009

This is another photo by Jennifer Catron - my cousin's wife. She took some great shots at The San Diego zoo. I'll be sharing a few of these photos over the next few days. The zoo in itself is worth a trip to San Diego. It's world famous! Please visit the link to the zoo, especially if you have kids as there is a lot of interesting interactive activities for them to learn by.Turtle, tortoise, and terrapin: what’s the difference?

Turtle— Spends most of its life in the water. Turtles tend to have webbed feet for swimming. Sea turtles (Cheloniidae family) are especially adapted for an aquatic life, with long feet that form flippers and a streamlined body shape. They rarely leave the ocean, except when the females come ashore to lay their eggs. Other turtles live in fresh water, like ponds and lakes. They swim, but they also climb out onto banks, logs, or rocks to bask in the sun. In cold weather, they may burrow into the mud, where they go into torpor until spring brings warm weather again.

Tortoise— A land-dweller that eats low-growing shrubs, grasses, and even cactus. Tortoises do not have webbed feet. Their feet are round and stumpy for walking on land. Tortoises that live in hot, dry habitats use their strong legs to dig burrows. Then, when it’s too hot in the sun, they slip underground.

Terrapin— Spends its time both on land and in water, but it always lives near water, along rivers, ponds, and lakes. Terrapins are often found in brackish, swampy areas. The word terrapin comes from an Indian word meaning "a little turtle.”

5.12.2009

Located on San Diego Bay, NASSCO is the largest new construction shipyard on the West Coast and a big employer in San Diego. NASSCO has been building large ships for commercial customers and the U.S. Navy since 1960.

Over the last four decades, NASSCO has delivered over 110 ships to the world's fleets -- 58 ships to commercial customers, becoming America's leading commercial shipbuilder during this period; and 56 auxiliary and support ships for the U.S. Navy.

5.11.2009

We sailed by The Ruben E. Lee restaurant and I shot a picture of it. It is located on Harbor Island near the San Diego International airport. It is where I had my first "real" date so many years ago. The Ruben E. Lee iss a replica of an 1880s Mississippi paddle wheeler and was built on a barge. I do not know if it is currently open - last I heard, a 9 million dollar renovation was underway.

5.07.2009

This is a picture of my nephew and brother-in-law. They love to go dirt biking in the outskirts of San Diego and in the desert. My nephew starting riding motorcycles at a very young age and is quite good. Personally, they scare me. I had a bad accident years ago on a beach in Baja (Mexico)and that was enough for me.

5.06.2009

5.05.2009

Seals at Children's Pool, La Jolla. The seals have taken over Children's Pool in La Jolla. There is a long ongoing battle over whom the beach should belong to - the seals or the people. Personally, I think the seals should win. Haven't we taken enough of their natural resources?

5.01.2009

Blog of Note!

October 2010

Welcome / Bienvenue

Welcome to my photo-blog of San Diego and surrounding areas. I am a native San Diegan, married to a Frenchman whom I met on vacation in Paris. San Diego is a large coastal city located in Southern California, the southwestern corner of the continental United States.